Floyd Memorial Library Podcast

Today we’re joined by Paolo Bartolani, founder and artistic director of the Rites of Spring Music Festival, a one-of-a-kind series that brings classical and contemporary music into conversation with the landscapes and history of the North Fork. Born in Italy and trained in Rome and Paris, Paolo brings a global perspective to this deeply local festival. We talk about the inspiration behind Rites of...

In this episode, I talk with Michael Zweig, SUNY Stony Brook professor emeritus and longtime labor scholar and activist. We trace his early life, from his family’s flight from Nazi Europe to his upbringing in Detroit and his move to Long Island. Zweig shares what first sparked his passion for labor and social justice, explains how class still shapes American life, and explores the rise of inequali...

Today on the podcast, I’m joined by Charlie Manwaring lifelong local, commercial fisherman, and the owner of the Southold Fish Market. Known for his hard work, community spirit, and deep ties to the waters of the North Fork, Charlie shares the story of how he went from working on the docks to running one of the most iconic seafood spots on Long Island. Charlie’s story is rooted in the waters and w...

Today on the podcast, I’m joined by Peter Treiber Jr. co-founder of Treiber Farms in Peconic. Known for its chemical-free, hand-tended approach, the farm has become a North Fork standout a place where sustainable agriculture meets community connection and a hub for creativity. Peter shares how the farm began, what it’s like working with his dad, and how they’ve blended tradition with innovation. W...

In this special “Year in Review” episode, I sit down with Southold Town Supervisor Al Krupski to reflect on his first year in office. From the hotel development moratorium, public safety,  affordable housing efforts to beach erosion and zoning reform, we cover the major decisions and challenges that shaped 2024. Supervisor Krupski shares insights on balancing growth with preservation, improving in...

In this episode, we sit down with Tijuana Fulford, Founder and Executive Director of The Butterfly Effect Project. Growing up in Riverhead, Tijuana was shaped by the people and experiences that instilled in her a deep commitment to community. That passion led her to create The Butterfly Effect Project, a youth empowerment organization that began with just a small group of girls and has since grown...

In this episode, we sit down with Anthony and Lisa Sannino of Sannino Vineyard to hear the story behind their journey to the North Fork and the creation of their family-run winery and inn. From their early impressions of the East End to planting vines, opening a bed and breakfast, and raising four children on the vineyard, the Sanninos reflect on how their Italian heritage, love of wine, and passi...

In this episode, I sit down with Tom Byrne, a dedicated psychologist whose journey spans the Bronx, Queens, Westchester, and now Greenport. Tom reflects on his family background, early education, and the communities that shaped his perspective. Alongside his long career in psychology including impactful work with SW BOCES Tom also shares his deep passion for theatre and the arts, which has been a...

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Mimi Fahs, Professor Emeritus at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, a nationally recognized health economist, and a passionate advocate for improving healthcare systems. Mimi shares how her upbringing shaped her lifelong commitment to public service, her groundbreaking work on Medicare’s cancer prevention benefits, and her leadership as f...

In this episode, I speak with Mark Clifford, President of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation. Raised in the U.S., Mark developed a deep interest in global affairs early on, which shaped his path as a journalist and editor. After studying economics and journalism, he moved to Hong Kong in the early 1990s and went on to lead major media outlets, including the South China Morning Post...

In this episode, we sit down with Kim Tetrault, Community Aquaculture Specialist & Founder of SPAT, Cornell Cooperative Extension. He begins by reflecting on his family background and the influence it had on his values and lifelong connection to the natural world. He shares his journey from studying marine biology to launching the SPAT program Suffolk Project for Aquatic Training through Cornell C...

In this episode, we sit down with Richard Panchyk, author of over 35 books on local history and an accomplished translator whose work has brought historical voices like Joseph Roth’s to new audiences. Born and raised in Elmhurst, Queens, Richard shares how his family heritage and upbringing in one of New York City’s most culturally rich neighborhoods shaped his deep connection to the city's pa...

Today’s guest is Laura Klahre, a scientist, sustainable farmer, and passionate advocate for pollinators. Though she began her career as an oceanographer, Laura hasn’t left marine science behind; instead, she’s applied its principles of observation and environmental care to life on land. At Blossom Meadow Farm on the North Fork of Long Island, she focuses on native pollinators like mason bees and p...

Today on the podcast, we’re joined by Arlene Klein, longtime Greenport resident, dedicated Rotarian, and one of the founding forces behind the Paul Drum Life Experience Project. Arlene first began visiting Greenport in the 1960s, drawn to its charm and sense of community, eventually making the village her full-time home. Over the years, she’s witnessed Greenport’s many transformations. Arlene has...

Today on the Floyd Memorial Library Podcast, we’re joined by Joyce Culver photographer, educator, and lifelong observer of the human experience. Born in Manhattan and raised in Ardsley, New York, Joyce grew up in a creative household that encouraged her curiosity and visual instincts. She studied at SUNY Buffalo, where formative mentors helped shape her early voice, and later returned for a MFA at...

Today’s guest is Richard Vandenburgh, co-founder of Greenport Harbor Brewing Company one of the most iconic and community-driven businesses in the region. A longtime North Fork resident with a background in law, Richard took a leap into the world of craft beer in 2009, helping transform a small village firehouse into a bustling brewery alongside his partner John Liegey. Since then, Greenport Harbo...

Today, we’re joined by Ellen Wiener, a visual artist whose work draws deeply from the worlds of landscape, literature, myth, and the natural sciences. Her paintings and prints have been exhibited widely from The International Medieval Conference to the New York Botanical Gardens and are held in major collections including the Smithsonian, the Cooper-Hewitt Museum, and Yale University. Ellen reflec...

Today on the Floyd Memorial Library Podcast, we’re joined by Brent Robertson, designer, storyteller, and founder of North Fork Authentic. Brent’s journey begins in Sag Harbor, winds through the creative crucibles of Brooklyn and the Pratt Institute, into the hallowed halls of NBC and Saturday Night Live , then across the Atlantic to London’s renowned design firm Pentagram. Returning to New York Ci...

My guest today is John Broven, a man whose passion for music has carried him across both oceans and eras. Born and raised in England, John came of age with his ear tuned to a distant signal: the raw, unvarnished sound of American rhythm and blues. Not content merely to listen, he became a chronicler, a preservationist, and, one might say, a cultural translator between continents. Through his pione...

Today’s episode is a deeply personal and inspiring conversation about love, legacy, and the power of unfinished dreams. My guest is Laura Carney, a writer and magazine copy editor whose life took a remarkable turn after discovering a bucket list her father wrote in 1978, years before he was tragically killed by a distracted driver. He never had the chance to complete the list, so decades later, La...

Today we’re diving into a critical topic that affects countless lives, but especially matters here on the East End, where timely care can mean the difference between life and death. Our guest is Dr. Candace Cummings, a hospitalist at Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital. She’s here to help us understand what it means for SBELIH to become a Primary Stroke Center and why that’s such an important...

Today I’m joined by Mark A. Torres, author, attorney, historian, and labor advocate. His writing confronts some of the more difficult corners of American history, from the exploitation of migrant workers on Long Island to the chilling legacy of the eugenics movement centered at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Through both nonfiction and fiction, Mark brings a deep sense of justice and narrative cla...

Today’s guest has worn many hats, Marine, soldier, real estate agent, town assessor, community leader. Lieutenant Colonel Charles Sanders has served his country across multiple theaters of war, including the Gulf, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay. And he’s continued that spirit of service here at home, where for over two decades he’s been a trusted figure in North Fork real estate, a former Southol...

We sit down with Fred Thiele, a lifelong son of Sag Harbor whose public service on the East End has spanned more than four decades. From his early days as a young aide to Assemblyman John Behan to his own nearly 30-year tenure in the New York State Assembly, Thiele has helped shape the region’s political landscape with a style both pragmatic and deeply local. He’s worn many hats: town attorney, co...

Today on the podcast, we sit down with Tom Foster, a thoughtful voice in our community whose story spans cities and coasts, eventually bringing him to the quiet charm of Peconic and then to Orient. In our conversation, Tom reflects on his journey, his early involvement with the beloved Orient Country Store, and the pride he feels seeing his daughter, Miriam, and her partner, Grayson, as they conti...